Han High Ancestor (漢高祖)

Overview

Han High Ancestor was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 948 高祖疾大漸
Cause Illness · Stage dying
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 67

Attested activity

AD 947 to AD 948 漢高祖建號至疾大漸
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 60, 67

Career and standing

commander of the palace guard 典禁兵
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 58

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60
At Taiyuan 太原 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 59-60

Events and relationships

Declared title
Political · Founder · At Taiyuan 太原
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60
Entered capital
Military · Sovereign
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 64
Entrusted deathbed charge
Political · Testator · With Shi Hongzhao (史宏肇)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 67
Sent Hongzhao against Geng
Military · Sovereign · With Shi Hongzhao (史宏肇)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 62

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 58

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 30Volume 30 Later Han Biographies 10: Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Liu Zhu, Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Zan, Guo Yunming · 7 passages

Open chapter

漢高祖典禁兵，弘肇為軍校。 When the Han High Ancestor took command of the guard, Hongzhao was a company officer.

其後，漢高祖鎮太原，使將武節左右指揮，領雷州刺史。 Later the High Ancestor held Taiyuan and put Hongzhao over the Left and Right Commands of Military Discipline, with Leizhou as his prefecture.

高祖建號於太原，代州王暉拒命，弘肇攻破之，以功拜忠武軍節度使、侍衛步軍都指揮使。 When the High Ancestor declared his title at Taiyuan, Wang Hui of Daizhou defied him. Hongzhao broke the city and was made Military Governor of Zhongwu and commander of the palace guard foot corps.

高祖遣弘肇前行擊之，崇美敗走，守恩以城歸漢。 The High Ancestor sent Hongzhao forward; Chongmei broke and fled, and Shou’en surrendered Luzhou to Han.

弘肇入河陽，高祖從後至，遂入京師。 Hongzhao entered Heyang; the High Ancestor came up behind and then entered the capital.

弘肇為將，嚴毅寡言，麾下嘗少忤意，立楇殺之，軍中為股慄，以故高祖起義之初，弘肇行兵所至，秋亳無犯，兩京帖然。 Hongzhao commanded with iron silence. The least offense and he killed on the spot with a club—the troops shook in their boots. At the start of the High Ancestor’s rising, wherever Hongzhao marched not a blade of grass was touched, and both capitals lay quiet.

高祖疾大漸，與楊邠、蘇逢吉等同授顧命。 As the High Ancestor lay dying, Hongzhao, Yang Bin, and Su Fengji were named together in his final charge.